Hello everyone! Welcome to the ERIP Restoration Action Planning (RAP) Bootcamp 2026.
You may post in English, Español, FrançaisorPortuguĂȘs, whichever feels easiest. You can change the language in which you view this Forum to FrançaisorPortuguĂȘs(navigate to the dropdown menu in the top right corner) so you donât need to worry about translating posts (only if you want, you can add a 1-line English summary to your post if it is not in English).
This forum is our shared space to meet peers across countries, ask questions, and keep momentum between emails and workshops. Weâre really happy youâre here.
Please introduce yourself by replying to this post (feel free to keep it short):
Name, country, organization, and optional (if you want to):
One output you want to achieve through this bootcamp
Your#1challenge in turning restoration priorities into an actionable plan
My name is Tulkun Yuldashev, and I am based in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. I work as a National Technical Analyst with the UNDP ECOLAND Project, focusing on ecosystem restoration, sustainable pasture management, climate resilience, and community-based livelihood development.
My professional background is in agriculture, water resources management, land restoration, and natural resource management. Over the years, I have worked on projects related to sustainable land management, irrigation and water management, climate-smart agriculture, pasture restoration, and rural livelihoods.
I am particularly interested in learning from the experiences of other countries in developing and implementing Restoration Action Plans, integrating restoration into local development planning, and identifying practical approaches for engaging communities in restoration efforts. I am also keen to exchange knowledge on restoration financing, monitoring systems, and sustainable livelihood opportunities linked to ecosystem restoration.
I look forward to learning from all of you, sharing experiences from Uzbekistan, and collaborating with fellow participants throughout the ERIP Restoration Action Planning Bootcam
For the Enhancing Sustainable Land Management and Biodiversity Conservation through Innovative Financing for Integrated Climate Resilience in Koinadugu and Falaba Districts.
My name is Celuzia Alberto, and I am based in Angola. I work in the Programme area of the Environment Unit at UNDP Angola, where I am involved in projects related to ecosystem restoration.
I am particularly excited to learn more about ecosystem restoration, exchange ideas, and collaborate with others in the Forum. I hope to strengthen my knowledge and contribute to meaningful discussions that support the success of restoration initiatives.
My name is Akaz Malassa Bumba, a Marine Biologist and Masterâs student in Biodiversity, Genetics, and Conservation. I currently work on the study and conservation of sea turtles in Angola, specifically in the Namibe Province.
I have high expectations for this course, and I hope to leave with a set of tools that will help me in ecosystem restoration, with a special focus on the Angolan coastal zoneâŠ
I am Shae-Lynn Hendricks, a Data Scientist at the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI). Iâm based in the Western Cape, South Africa. While Iâm not currently in a direct, restoration role, my work is closely connected to the enabling environment for restoration at a national level. I am involved in South Africaâs National Biodiversity Assessment (NBA) 2025 and contribute to the development of the countryâs National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) by providing input and reviewing of the framework, both of which create important pathways to strengthen how restoration is reflected in national priorities.
In addition, I am part of the National Monitoring Systems Initiative (NMSI), where we are developing a platform to support government officials, scientists, policymakers, and other stakeholders in tracking South Africaâs progress toward meeting the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) and the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP). This work provides valuable insight into national priorities, gaps, and emerging opportunities, particularly where restoration can play a transformative role.
Iâm especially excited to deepen my understanding of how to design practical, step-by-step restoration action plans that can be embedded into these existing policy and monitoring frameworks. Iâm also keen to learn from othersâ experiences and explore opportunities for collaboration that bridge the gap between high-level policy and effective implementation on the ground.
Looking forward to engaging and learning with you all!
My name is Otabek Eshmatov, and I am based in Uzbekistan. I work as a Communication and Knowledge Management Associate for the GEF-funded joint project between the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) serving as a responsible party for the project, âIntegrated Conservation Management and Restoration of High-Value Landscapes in Uzbekistan (ECOLAND).â
My work focuses on strategic communications, knowledge management, stakeholder engagement, and sharing lessons learned from ecosystem restoration and biodiversity conservation initiatives. I am particularly interested in how effective communication and knowledge exchange can support restoration efforts and encourage broader participation from communities and decision-makers.
I am excited to join the ERIP Forum, learn from restoration practitioners and experts from around the world, and exchange experiences on landscape restoration, conservation, and sustainable natural resource management. I look forward to building new connections and exploring opportunities for collaboration.
My name is Celuzia Alberto, and I am based in Angola. I work in the Programme area of the Environment Unit at UNDP Angola, where I am involved in projects related to ecosystem restoration.
I am particularly excited to learn more about ecosystem restoration, exchange ideas, and collaborate with others in the Forum. I hope to strengthen my knowledge and contribute to meaningful discussions that support the success of restoration initiatives.
Dr. Antoinette AKPLOGAN, Expert in Restoration at ANGMV
I am a Researcher in Geo-environment and Sustainable Development.
I am delighted to be a member of this forum for sharing experiences on ecosystem restoration. I am confident that it will help me strengthen my capacity to develop action plans and climate resilience approaches, and finally, share my experiences with other participants.
My biggest challenge is creating a detailed budget for my activities.
My name is Meire Lima, and I am based in SĂŁo Paulo, Brazil. I currently work as a Restoration Specialist at WRI Brasil, focusing on projects in the Amazon and Atlantic Forest biomes.
My work primarily involves providing technical and methodological support for ecological restoration planning and monitoring activities, contributing to public policy development, and supporting the planning of capacity-building and stakeholder engagement initiatives.
I am very excited to exchange experiences and learn more about the actions, approaches, and technologies being developed and implemented in other regions. I look forward to identifying synergies and opportunities for replication and adaptation to the Brazilian context.
My name is AnneThierno Oumar. I am Mauritanian and an Environmental Geomatics Engineer. I currently work as an environmental and GIS consultant, and I also serve as a part-time lecturer at ISET de Rosso, where I teach practical courses on irrigation, hydro-agricultural project design, and meteorology.
My work primarily focuses on ecosystem restoration, environmental studies, geomatics, remote sensing, rural infrastructure, and the sustainable management of land and water resources.
Through this bootcamp, I aim to strengthen my skills in developing Restoration Action Plans based on scientific data, integrating geospatial technologies, climate resilience, and community participation.
My main challenge is to translate restoration priorities into concrete, coordinated, and sustainable actions, relying on reliable spatial data, appropriate funding, and strong involvement from local stakeholders.
I am delighted to join this community and look forward to exchanging ideas, learning from your experiences, and sharing those from Mauritania.
I look forward to collaborating with you throughout this Bootcamp!
My name is Magaly Aldave, and I am from Peru. I serve as the National Coordinator for the Andean Ecosystem Restoration Project in Peru, which is being implemented across three landscapes (Ancash, Pasco-JunĂn, and Nor-Yauyos Cochas). We are currently in the first year of execution. This is a project by MINAM, with support from UNDP.
Professionally, I am a forestry engineer, and I am very pleased to share this space.
I work as an Environmental and Social Specialist at the Executing Agency of the Ministry of Public Works, Transportation, and Communications, where I support the environmental and social management of infrastructure projects.
I am taking this bootcamp because I believe ecosystem restoration should play a much greater role in infrastructure development. I hope to gain practical tools to design mitigation measures that donât just reduce impacts but actively help restore ecosystems â and to apply them in future projects in Haiti.
Hello everyone. My name is Betty Thobeka Maimela, from South Africa. I work as a senior manager at Mahlathini Development Foundation (MDF), working closely with rural communities in KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and the Eastern Cape. I work directly with emerging and small-scale farmers, as well as on projects related to water issues in rural areas and institutional governance around water. Our biggest projects focus on community-based climate adaptation in agriculture, disaster management in rural areas, water restoration, and food security.
My advantage is that I bring deep practical knowledge of the context itself â rural water services, smallholder agroecology, rural water restoration capacity, and catchment work in the Limpopo Olifants â which is exactly what the finance tools need to be anchored to. This work builds directly on the existing projects and objectives that the MDF team wants to achieve.
This journey will help me find alignment between actionable policy and case studies from the ground, so that our practitioners and policy makers can find ways to include rural community structures in planning and in actionable plans.
My name is SALL Sleimane, and I am based in Mauritania .
I lead the NGO EPAV, which specializes in environmental protection and ecosystem restoration. I am very pleased to be among you and enthusiastic about learning more about restoration from professionals like you!
One of the goals I want to achieve in a native grassland ecosystem restoration project in the mountain range is to address the degradation caused by overgrazing and climate change. As a result, there is little palatable vegetation for wild and domestic animals, along with the disappearance of water sources.
The challenge is to establish a governance policy that encourages the participation of all stakeholders in restoring degraded ecosystems. Currently, no stakeholder is concerned with conserving the ecosystems in the headwaters of the watersheds, despite the scarcity of natural forage and water sources.
Welcome, Sleimane! Iâm Tulkun Yuldashev from Uzbekistan. I work on ecosystem restoration, sustainable land management, and pasture management with UNDP. I look forward to learning and exchanging experiences with everyone. Best wishes!
Welcome Sall! Itâs wonderful to have you and the work of NGO EPAV represented in this cohort. Looking forward to hearing more about your work in Mauritania throughout the bootcamp.
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